Day 69 // Public Channel

[psionichax0r]

She said I'm supposed to be patrol... So if you're in charge of patrol let me know what I should actually be doing.

[You know, besides setting up a tent, because that's not going to happen. The voice has a slight lisp, the speaker unknown as he doesn't bother to introduce himself.]

Also, why are we here?

Comments

[betheman]

While I, the man Gongenzaka, am not the Warden for Patrol, I am at least able to say as Deputy that we are primarily on a 'break' for the moment.

Beyond making certain that none among our number is lost to the wilderness here, or strays too far, there is mostly 'camping' to be done.

[A pause, and.]

I, the man Gongenzaka, am rather surprised to hear that we have another among our number at this time, actually...

[psionichax0r]

[So he doesn't need to be doing anything, and this guy is a weirdo. But he just got hired so what are the odds he's actually not supposed to do something?]

Yeah. Okay. But I'm sure you won't mind if I wait to hear it from the warden.

[betheman]

And you are certainly free to do so-

In the meantime however, that leaves you with the task of setting up camp either way. Unless you intend to sleep upon soil, naturally.

[psionichax0r]

Yeah. [He looks over at the tent he'd been given to set up where it rests on the ground.] I'm not doing that.

[betheman]

The preparation of a campsite, or the sleeping upon soil?

[psionichax0r]

"Preparing" a "campsite" [And you can definitely hear the quotation marks around both words]

[betheman]

You were given supplies, were you not?

[He at least hopes you were.]

[psionichax0r]

Yes?

[betheman]

Then I, the man Gongenzaka, recommend perhaps using them. They have been granted for a reason.

[psionichax0r]

And what reason is that?

[betheman]

To give yourself shelter, food, and tools with which to take full advantage of the surroundings here. [He recites, like a Nerd,]

[psionichax0r]

[Ugh, trolling this guy would just take too much energy at this point.] Somehow I think I'll manage.

[betheman]

[That's his secret Sol-]

Aah, I, the man Gongenzaka, have a feeling you shall..!

Otherwise, I shall see you in the medical tent, perhaps.

[gon no]

[psionichax0r]

[That almost makes him laugh.] I thought the only thing to worry about was people getting lost in the wilderness.

[betheman]

If you are intelligent enough to set up camp, certainly.

[Can it be?

Is GONGENZAKA trolling!?]

[psionichax0r]

Can? Yes. Will? Nah.

[betheman]

Then that shall be your own loss.

[Annnnd he's out.]

[osteothropy]

Hiya. Warden here.

We're on break, but if a fight breaks out it's your job to pitch in and stop it, k?

Keep the murder to a minimum, people here don't like that so much.

[psionichax0r]

Just stop it? [It sounds pretty easy, but since multiple people worked on patrol there had to be something difficult about it.] And what about after it's stopped?

[osteothropy]

I dunno, pal. How good is your problem-solving?

[psionichax0r]

[Hardy har har.] I'm just asking so I don't break any unspoken rules.

[osteothropy]

Usually, fights are the result of someone outside the carnival going after someone inside of it. Recently, that's mostly been the fae, which are too powerful for any one of us to handle on our own.

If you come into conflict with them, your priorities are to gather up anyone at risk and get them out of there.

For anything else it's going to be situational, so neutralize the threat and either escape or wait for backup as necessary.

[There, it's a real answer.]

[psionichax0r]

How can I recognize them?

[osteothropy]

Uh, usually the fact that they are completely kicking your ass will give it away.

[psionichax0r]

Wouldn't it be kind of impossible to get anyone away at that point?

[osteothropy]

Gotta get lucky sometimes, right?

[But this is something he should probably be real about. No reason not to go into it over the network. People can always stand the refresher.]

But usually seeing a fae is an immediate crisis situation, yeah. Our only luck with getting away from a direct confrontation with them in the past has been ducking away while something distracts them... either a third party, or one of our own taking the bullet for the rest of the group.

That's why getting away fast is the priority.

Fae are usually sort of human looking, with pointed ears, but there's a lot of variation, too. If you have any magical senses, you'll be able to spot just how powerful they are at a glance.

[psionichax0r]

[He still can't hear the word magic without snrking a little, but he manages to do it off radio at least. It would be stupid to argue it wasn't really after contracting to do the bidding of some kind of super wizard.]

...If we die we still get what we signed on for, right?

[He probably should have thought of that before signing...]

[osteothropy]

If it's something that can be done posthumously, I think so, yeah.

[psionichax0r]

[Small sigh of relief.]

Good.

[Then he only has to worry about getting other people to safety. If he did a shit job at that she might decide he hadn't been working hard enough or something dumb like that.]

I'll just push everyone else away and hope they get the idea.

[It's on them if they can't take a hint after that.]

[moonfang]

Yer on patrol, huh? Well, lucky you, there ain't much to "patrol" here. Just try and keep those shadowy owl things away from everyone's shit and you should be square.

[psionichax0r]

Shadowy owl things?

[moonfang]

Shadowy owl things! I think they're technically called "mothmen", but they look like weird owls with bright red eyes. They come around at night, mostly, and they're awful hard ta get a good look at. But they spook off easy enough.

[psionichax0r]

Kay, and why should I care if they steal your shit?

[Because as far as he's concerned it's only protecting people that he's supposed to care about.]

[moonfang]

Because yer on patrol, and that means you should give a damn if peoples' shit gets stole, idiot. What, not a team player?

[psionichax0r]

All I was told to do was stop fights.

[moonfang]

Tch! Well, I guess if ya just wanna be bored. There's nothing to fight, here.

[psionichax0r]

Chasing off a bunch of featherbeasts doesn't really sound that entertaining either.

[moonfang]

Better than the alternative, I think. But hey, I get bored real easy.

[psionichax0r]

Sitting around in case birds come so you can shoe them away is your better alternative?

[Because even bashing your head against a rock sounded like a better way to pass time to Sollux.]

[moonfang]

Well then, smart ass, what do YOU suggest?

[haides]

The answer changes depending on who you ask. We are here as prisoners; we are here to fulfill a hidden desire; we are escaping circumstances that frighten or frustrate us and so forth. You are the one who spoke to the Ringmaster. What did she tell you?

(Forgive a curious old god. Hades is mostly harmless.)

[psionichax0r]

Uh yeah, I meant why are we in the middle of a random forest.

[He already knows why HE's here, and he isn't going to tell you. Sorry weirdo.]

[haides]

That is her choice. I would not waste time questioning it.

(Aw come on, now. They can share stories!)